Jodi Thomas (25 page)

“There’s where the barn will be.” He pointed to the north, where a hill of rock and trees made farming impossible, but where tiny ridges could be used for corrals and pens. “Over there’s where we’ll plant your garden. It’ll get the morning sun and be shaded by the trees in the afternoon.”

Anna shaded her eyes. “I can’t see the house.”

Chance reined Cyoty to a slow walk. “Now, don’t expect much. Remember we only agreed to build the dugout first. When I have time I’ll add a cabin.”

“I know.” Anna didn’t care what it looked like. She just wanted to see her home.

Rounding a group of live oaks, Anna held her breath as the house came into view. It was almost hidden beneath the evening shadows of the trees. The roof was made of logs and at first glance the cabin looked as if it were only three feet tall. The steps going down into the cellar-like home were hidden by a mound of dirt covered with sunflowers.

Shouting with joy, Anna almost jumped off Cyoty. Chance was hard-pressed to manage the horse and get Anna down without injury to either.

She ran to the cabin and opened the door before he could tie up the bay. “Oh, look!” he heard her squeal just as Carl and Selma came through the trees on what was already becoming a well-worn path.

For the next several minutes everyone talked and hugged at once. Maggie was accepted as one of the family within a heartbeat. Selma even hugged Tobin, which left the man speechless for a moment. While they unloaded, Carl filled Chance in on all he’d done since Chance had left.

When Chance walked into the cabin he could hardly believe the change. Selma had swept the floor until it was as smooth as hardwood. Carl had laid extra rocks in an oval around the fireplace, forming a ledge. He’d made a bed frame and a table as well as two chairs and a bench. Shelves lined one wall and pegs lined another.

Carl’s sunburned face beamed. “I made you something special.” He lifted a blanket, revealing a little bench with a high back made just for two.

Tears rolled down Anna’s face. The little room with its primitive furnishings was the most beautiful home in the world to her. “Thank you,” she said. “How will I ever be able to repay you?”

“Probably with a meal,” Chance said with a laugh. “We’ve been stuck up here with Selma’s cooking for a month. If you can’t cook, Anna, you’d better tell us now so Carl and I can go live with the Indians. Selma’s cooking will surely kill us by winter.”

Selma slapped Chance on the arm. Her words were all mixed up in German and English, but everyone knew she didn’t mind his teasing.

Anna watched, feeling a little envious of their lighthearted banter. She pulled her pots from the trunk. “I’ll make supper tomorrow night. We have meat. Tobin brought me flour for bread and Mrs. Basse gave me dried peaches. We’ll have a feast.”

“And I’ll bring wood to make Maggie a bed.” Carl acted as though he were measuring the little girl. “I’ll build it high so she can be up close to the windows at night and then hang all her clothes underneath.”

Chance motioned Carl outside as the women talked. When they were several feet past the dugout door, he said, “There were Indians following us almost from the time we left the settlement.”

Carl’s freckled face creased with worry. “Are you sure? Did you see them?”

Looking toward the dugout door, Chance kept his voice low. “Didn’t have to see them. I could sense them. We’re being watched and I don’t like it. Tobin’s going to stay around for a few days in case there’s trouble.”

Carl stood up straight and tried to sound defiant, but his voice shook a little. “There will be no trouble. The society told us the Indians around here are peaceful.”

Chance moved back toward the others. “Maybe you’re right, but I’m sleeping with one eye open.” He didn’t want to think about what would happen if they were attacked, but he knew he had to be prepared.

Everyone was talking again, making plans for the morning. Chance watched Anna unpacking each of her things from the trunk. She’d smile at each treasure, then look around for exactly the right place for it. She was settling in, building her nest. She was home.

Chance left for the fields before Anna and Maggie were up. He’d slept outside, on guard, using the excuse of not wanting Maggie to be frightened her first night in the strange little house. In truth, he could feel the Indians nearby. It was too quiet to be more than a small band, but they were there.

By the time Anna had dressed and cooked breakfast he’d been working for two hours. She called him in from the fields just as he pulled a tree stump from the ground with Tobin’s team. Chance was already shirtless and sweaty in the cool morning air. He allowed Tobin to go ahead as he washed up and put his shirt back on. The older man would never have allowed his attire to come between him and food, but Chance needed time alone before facing Anna. He couldn’t allow his thoughts of her to show in his face, or he might frighten her.

Anna served pancakes with berries and thin venison steaks. Chance cleaned his plate, and she made a mental note to prepare larger meals. He was quiet, but Anna could think of no reason for his anger. Yet something was obviously bothering him.

As he walked toward the fields, Anna followed. “You forgot your hat.”

Chance turned back and stared at her. “I don’t need it.”

Anna touched his shoulder. “You’ll blister.”

Chance pulled away from her touch. “I’ll come in and work on the barn when it gets hot.” His eyes looked tired. The sadness in them made Anna want to cry.

“What is it?” she whispered. “You’ve been angry about something since the night I gave you the nightshirt and now you look like you haven’t slept for days.”

Chance laughed, but there was no happiness in his eyes. “I’m not angry about that nightshirt. In fact, I’m not angry about anything. Maybe it’s just your pregnancy.”

“No.” Anna resented him sloughing the problem between them off on her pregnancy. “There’s something bothering you.”

Chance looked toward the fields as if he were impatient to return. How could he tell Anna what was eating away at him? How could he say that every time she hugged Maggie, he felt a pain inside him. She seemed to have all the love and caring in the world for his sister, but none for him. Oh, she was fond of touching him. He could still feel the warmth of her fingers on his shoulder, but if he moved toward her, she’d step away. He was sick of being near her and not holding her. He was angry at himself for being jealous of Maggie when the child needed so much love and affection. And soon, Anna would have her baby and Chance would be pushed even further from her. But he couldn’t tell her any of this. He didn’t even want to admit it to himself.

Touching his arm again, Anna insisted, “Tell me what it is that’s troubling you or I’ll follow you to the fields and flutter around you like Selma does to Carl when he tries to work.”

Chance smiled. He’d enjoy Anna flirting with him the way Selma flirted with Carl, but she was hardly in a condition to tramp around the fields. “All right.” He lifted his hands. “I give up.”

Anna rubbed her back and waited.

“I didn’t want to tell you about this because I didn’t want you to worry.” He had to tell her something that she’d believe. “Tobin and I think there might be a group of Indians camped not far from here. We’ve felt them watching us for several days.”

Anna held her breath.

Chance chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to frighten her. “They may be peaceful like most in these parts. Tobin left this morning, hoping to find out. I didn’t want you to worry.”

Anna relaxed. “I won’t,” she lied. “That explains why you’ve been walking the camp at night and why you didn’t sleep in the house last night.”

The corner of Chance’s full lip raised slightly. “Would you like me to?”

Anna looked down and suddenly became very interested in straightening her apron. “I think for appearances . . .” Suddenly, Anna didn’t want to lie anymore. There was no need to pretend out here in this land. She’d missed his arms around her. “I wouldn’t mind.” She ran her hand over her stomach. “I seem to be taking up more space every day. There may not be room for anyone to sleep next to me soon. But you need a good night’s sleep, and the man of the house shouldn’t sleep on the ground. Maggie will have her little bed tonight when Carl comes for dinner.”

Chance knew she was rambling a little with nervousness, but she’d said what he wanted to hear. Tonight she’d sleep in his arms.

L
ifting the iron pot from beside the fire, Anna rotated it slowly just as her cook in Germany had taught her. The fresh smell of bread blended with the aroma of roast turkey and filled the one-room home with the promise of a feast. Anna wanted to do something to please Chance. His dark mood of the past few days seemed to lighten only when he hugged Maggie. The child was a joy. Even if he’d only been out of the room a few minutes, each time he returned she flew toward him with her arms outstretched.

A touch of jealousy snuck into Anna’s heart. She would like to have been encircled by those strong arms, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. How could a man’s embrace feel so secure when she knew it was as unsteady as the sandy cliffs around the stream beside their cabin? They too looked solid and steadfast, but when you put any weight on them, they shifted and crumbled. And this winter, on the anniversary of their marriage, Chance’s strength would be gone from her life completely.

Sometimes she thought of asking him to stay, but he’d told her often enough that he planned to continue his search for his parents’ killer, Storm’s Edge. Also, if he stayed he might expect to become a real husband to her, and despite the fact that Anna liked having him around, she’d vowed never to allow a man to use her body in that way again.

Swiftly, she pushed her doubts aside as she swept the extra pieces of dough from the table. Maggie was asleep in the high bed Carl had finished making for her only an hour ago. She’d worked beside Anna all morning, cleaning the little house, and was exhausted.

Anna rolled a piece of light brown dough flat against the table. All that was left to do was prepare dessert and cover the table with her finest linen cloth. Carl had gone home to fetch Selma and clean up. Tonight would be Anna’s first dinner in her new home, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

A shadow moved over the doorway, blocking the late afternoon sun. For a moment Anna continued working and waited for Chance’s voice.

The shadow over her work area remained.

She glanced up into the bright sunlight that shone in from behind the wide frame of a man.

For a moment she was unafraid. The shadowy man before her seemed made of stone, like a statue outside a store. His headdress brushed the top of the doorway, and his wide shoulders pushed at the door frame as if requesting more room to enter. His bare chest shone like polished oak.

Anna dropped the pie pan, sending a white puff of flour from the table. “Indians,” she whispered, digging into her dress pocket for Chance’s knife.

The knife!
her mind screamed as if her hands were feebleminded and couldn’t think of what to grasp.

The Indian moved a step closer. His skin glistened with a thin layer of sweat in the afternoon light. A huge knife at his belt clanged against a chair.

Anna stopped her search. What good would Chance’s little knife be? If this savage pulled his blade, she would be slashed through before she could even draw blood.

“What do you want?” Anna moved back toward the corner trying not to look frightened. She remembered Chance telling her to show no fear. Yet her hands shook and the hair stood up along the back of her neck. Panic ricocheted off the walls of her mind.

The sun flashed across the Indian’s face as he took another step toward her. His nose was wide and long and his high cheekbones made him look like a proud king. His parted lips revealed huge straight teeth.

Anna looked around for a weapon. She watched as he raised his hand slowly toward her. There was no doubt in her mind that his fingers could choke her before she could even get a scream past her lips.

Her body was shaking so badly that she could hardly think. She glanced down at the hot round bread she’d just pulled from the fire. In one mighty lunge she lifted the hot pan and flung it at the Indian.

The iron pan dropped to the floor, but the bread flew right into the Indian’s hand. She heard the soft thud as it hit his wide palm. He could probably smash her skull with little more effort than he’d need to crumble the bread.

He looked down at the hot steaming thing as if he had no idea what to do with it. The bread filled his hand as he pulled it close to his nose.

In pure panic, Anna ran for the open door like a deer bolts after a shot is fired. Without looking behind her, she ran toward the fields where she knew Chance was working.

“Chance!” she screamed. “Chance!”